Carlos Brown is one of 96 players who will join some of the world’s best golfers with disabilities to compete in the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 6, July 17-19, 2022. Carlos is also the ony African American who will be in the global field.
The inaugural competition was announced by the USGA in December 2021 and becomes its 15th national championship, joining such iconic longstanding events as the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur. Champions of this new event will see their names recorded in the annals of golf history alongside many of the game’s storied figures.
The USGA received 299 entries for the 2022 event. Entries into the championship opened on Feb. 28, and closed on May 4 with a staggering variety of players submitting. The field includes competitors from 29 states and 12 countries. Upon completion of the selection, the championship’s youngest competitor is 15-year-old Sophia Howard from Hudsonville, Mich. Judith Brush, 80, of Alexandria, Va., is the championship’s oldest player.
Carlos, age 42, from Mckinney, Texas, with a leg impairment, lost his lower left leg in a tragedy that happened in 2016, when he was teaching a lesson and stepped out of his golf cart and into a deep sprinkler head. The accident sprained his ankle badly and shortly afterward an infection set in. After being rushed to the emergency room, the award-winning golf coach found himself waking up from a surgery where his lower left leg had been amputated.
Impairment categories are:
- Arm Impairment
- Leg Impairment
- Multiple Limb Amputee
- Vision Impairment
- Intellectual Impairment
- Neurological Impairment
- Seated Players
- Short Stature
“I entered this tournament because it’s one of our major championships and the same reason any professional wants to play in the U.S. Open which has always been a dream as a kid, so this is the next best thing,” said Carlos. “It’s also a platform to talk about mental health and to show others that being different doesn’t mean that you’re not capable of doing great things. God will get all the glory from this, or whatever I do, and that’s always number one for me.”
Carlos expects to play his best, and says, “Like everyone else, I want to win. Most importantly represent my faith, myself, my family and sponsors well.” It’s a mission that he is committed to completing and in preparing for the event, he has modified his work schedule. “In between teaching all day I’m practicing and playing in a few events, also trying to get stronger with the trainer in my academy, Alisa Chong, and really working on my mental processing.”
Today, Carlos is a force to be reckoned with as one of the top teaching professionals in the USA. He has nearly 20-years of experience and was named Golf Digest, Top 40 Best Teachers Under 40 in US (2010 – 2019), Golf Digest Best Teachers in State (2020-21), served as a Callaway Master Staff Professional and a Nike Golf Elite Staffer.
Among holding many other notable roles, Carlos is recipient of numerous awards and recognitions and, founded the Carlos Brown Golf Academy where he has instructed hundreds of students, help golf pros, tour players, top junior, college and amateur players. In his years of teaching, he has help over 70 junior golfers receive college scholarships and has helped numerous golf professionals pass their playing ability test for the PGA. and hosts amputee golf clinics.
Carlos also recently won 2nd place at the Texas Adaptive Championship, May 2- 5, at The Golf Club at Champions Circle in Fort Worth, TX.
For the upcoming U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at Pinehurst, a player’s individual Handicap Index® was the primary factor in determining the field, with the USGA reserving at least five male player spots and two female player spots per impairment category.
The championship will be contested over 54 holes of stroke play and open to males and females, professionals and amateurs, with either physical impairment, sensory impairment (vision), or intellectual impairment, who have a WR4GD Pass as well as an authorized World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index®. Multiple sets of tees will be utilized. Carts will be permitted for all players and caddies.
“Since 1895, our championships have provided the world’s best players with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage, compete for a national championship and achieve their dreams,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director, Championships. “After years of planning and delays caused by the global pandemic, we are proud to bring that same opportunity to the adaptive golf community through this championship and to do so at Pinehurst, our second home. We believe this effort will spur participation for golfers with disabilities and hope it inspires others in the industry to make the game and its competitions more welcoming to all.”
In addition to determining overall male and female champions and runners-up, there will be a male and female winner in each impairment category. The Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 6 was designed by architects George and Tom Fazio and opened in 1979 with redesign and restorations by Tom Fazio in 2005. Since the 2005 renovation, No. 6 has been elevated to one of the resort’s top championship-level layouts. Take a tour of the course at USGA.org.
SHEDULE OF PLAY:
Monday, July 18 (18 holes)
Tuesday, July 19 (18 holes)
Wednesday, July 20 (18 holes)
For more information on the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 6, July 17-19, 2022 visit USGS.org.
